New York Vintners (21 Warren Street, Tribeca) has three events next week (Feb 1 - 3) centered on biodynamic and organic wine. Events include a vertical tasting of Mooiplaas wines from South Africa and a biodynamic and organic wine tasting, Tickets for each cost $15 and proceeds benefit Slow Foods. Details on NY Vintner's website.
January 2010 Archives
Aussie drink dens Bondi Road (153 Rivington St) and Sunburnt Cow (137 Ave C) are celebrating Australia Day today with all you can drink booze - 3 hours for $20. Steak sandwiches & burgers ($3) will help soak up the booze.Not sure how the indigenous peoples of Australia deal with a celebration of the arrival of the British, but as long as they don't run screenings of the Nicole Kidman - Hugh Jackman fiasco Australia, it should be okay. There isn't enough booze in the world to make that film palatable.
We'd heard much about Williamsburg's Rye (247 S. 1st Street), which opened last year to a good bit of fanfare, but had been remiss in making a trip until recently. Finally we did and we're happy to report that advance notice was spot on - where many Brooklyn spots disappoint, Rye is the real deal with good food and great cocktails.
The cocktails skew classic and towards the brown liquors we at BoozyNYC love so. Let us count the reasons to love Rye: The Havemeyer (Rittenhouse rye, Fino Sherry, Carpano Antica and bitters) is a fine Manhattan-esque drink. The very good Classic Old Fashioned. The smoky Blood and Sand (black tea infused scotch, cherry heering, vermouth). The spot-on Sazerac. The terrifically spiced Hot Butternut Rum, a take on the classic using butternut squash butter in addition to aged rum and housemade falernum. However, both the Southside (gin, muddled cucumber, mint, fresh lime, soda water) and Stone Fence (Laird's Applejack, fresh apple cider, housemade ginger beer) were well made, if too sweet for our taste. All cocktails are $10.
The food lived up to advance billing for the most part - it stuck to your ribs, was tasty and worked pretty well with the drinks. The standouts were the grilled quail, which was the best quail we've had in a long time, and the house smoked sturgeon appetizer. The pork belly was merely good - nicely grilled edges but otherwise run of the mill - is NYC officially over pork belly or what? Less successful were the mac & cheese, which needed a bit more flavor not to mention creaminess, and the vaunted meatloaf sandwich - pretty good but completely upstaged by the crispy onions that crowned it. The meat, while moist, needed to amp up the flavor and the bread was superfluous.
The room is a somewhat endearing hodgepodge - the bar dating back to 1890 is majestically dark and imposing, providing a solid foundation from which to get hammered. But the rest of the space looks like a German restaurant circa 1900. The main room is full of large round tables situated too close to the bar, meaning that anyone standing at the busy bar are nearly pushed against patrons on the bar stools. The back area with a smattering of smaller tables gave off a bit of a Siberia vibe.
Rye is well worth a visit. It's priced right, the attitude is in check and there is real talent both behind the bar and in the kitchen.
The cocktails skew classic and towards the brown liquors we at BoozyNYC love so. Let us count the reasons to love Rye: The Havemeyer (Rittenhouse rye, Fino Sherry, Carpano Antica and bitters) is a fine Manhattan-esque drink. The very good Classic Old Fashioned. The smoky Blood and Sand (black tea infused scotch, cherry heering, vermouth). The spot-on Sazerac. The terrifically spiced Hot Butternut Rum, a take on the classic using butternut squash butter in addition to aged rum and housemade falernum. However, both the Southside (gin, muddled cucumber, mint, fresh lime, soda water) and Stone Fence (Laird's Applejack, fresh apple cider, housemade ginger beer) were well made, if too sweet for our taste. All cocktails are $10.
The food lived up to advance billing for the most part - it stuck to your ribs, was tasty and worked pretty well with the drinks. The standouts were the grilled quail, which was the best quail we've had in a long time, and the house smoked sturgeon appetizer. The pork belly was merely good - nicely grilled edges but otherwise run of the mill - is NYC officially over pork belly or what? Less successful were the mac & cheese, which needed a bit more flavor not to mention creaminess, and the vaunted meatloaf sandwich - pretty good but completely upstaged by the crispy onions that crowned it. The meat, while moist, needed to amp up the flavor and the bread was superfluous.
The room is a somewhat endearing hodgepodge - the bar dating back to 1890 is majestically dark and imposing, providing a solid foundation from which to get hammered. But the rest of the space looks like a German restaurant circa 1900. The main room is full of large round tables situated too close to the bar, meaning that anyone standing at the busy bar are nearly pushed against patrons on the bar stools. The back area with a smattering of smaller tables gave off a bit of a Siberia vibe.
Rye is well worth a visit. It's priced right, the attitude is in check and there is real talent both behind the bar and in the kitchen.
A couple intriguing Eating & Drinking events next Monday January 25 -
Astor Center is holding an "Elements of Wine Class" with all proceeds being donated to Haiti relief efforts. Tickets are $75 ($50 with discount code) and fully deductible. More info at Astor Center's website.
Edible Manhattan is holding a cocktail celebration called "Good Spirits" at Almond (12 E. 22nd Street), featuring six chefs paired with six different liquors. Participating restaurants include Gramercy Tavern and Il Buco. More info and tickets ($40) here.
Astor Center is holding an "Elements of Wine Class" with all proceeds being donated to Haiti relief efforts. Tickets are $75 ($50 with discount code) and fully deductible. More info at Astor Center's website.
Edible Manhattan is holding a cocktail celebration called "Good Spirits" at Almond (12 E. 22nd Street), featuring six chefs paired with six different liquors. Participating restaurants include Gramercy Tavern and Il Buco. More info and tickets ($40) here.
Chambers Street Wines has teamed with Louis/Dressner Selections for a wine tasting benefiting Haiti relief efforts tomorrow from 4pm to 7pm. Taste some excellent wines from Louis/Dressner, Douglas Polaner, Kermit Lynch, David Bowler and Michael Skurnik and make a donation to Partners in Health (if you can't make it, donate online at PIH.org). Suggested donations are $10 per person.
Chambers Street Wines tasting benefiting Haiti relief efforts
Saturday January 16, 4pm - 7pm
148 Chambers Street
Chambers Street Wines tasting benefiting Haiti relief efforts
Saturday January 16, 4pm - 7pm
148 Chambers Street
Hotel Delmano (82 Berry Street, Williamsburg) has been around awhile but it never quite made the A-list of NYC cocktail meccas. We had a good experience last year, and while the cocktail list was on the short side upon the opening, there was promise. Recently, we popped in to see what they are up to.
The cocktail list is much longer these days, there are more bartenders, too. Our first round consisted of the Rattlesnake (rye, absinthe, lemon, egg white, $13) and Autumn Leaves (olorso sherry, apricot, reposado tequila, $9). The Rattlesnake was fine though it didn't have much bite while Autumn Leaves didn't work at all. Smoke and Flowers (St. Germain, sherry, dry vermouth, Ardberg single malt scotch, $10), which has a romantic 1930s ring to it, was quite good while the 20th Century (lemon, white creme de cacao, Lillet, gin, $9) was good but a touch sweet. Lastly we couldn't resist the very good, smoky Devil's Garden (lime, agave nectar, mint, chipotle, cynar, and bitter infused mezcal, $12).
Overall, the cocktails are good - misses are likely unavoidable - with such an extensive list, but only the Devil's Garden truly impressed. The space is romantic and inviting, banquette seating cozy but service struck us as efficient but indifferent, which broke the spell a bit. While prices are generally attractive ($9- 13), we'd be hard pressed to give a reason for you to go out of your way to check in to the Hotel Delmano unless you're in the 'hood.
The cocktail list is much longer these days, there are more bartenders, too. Our first round consisted of the Rattlesnake (rye, absinthe, lemon, egg white, $13) and Autumn Leaves (olorso sherry, apricot, reposado tequila, $9). The Rattlesnake was fine though it didn't have much bite while Autumn Leaves didn't work at all. Smoke and Flowers (St. Germain, sherry, dry vermouth, Ardberg single malt scotch, $10), which has a romantic 1930s ring to it, was quite good while the 20th Century (lemon, white creme de cacao, Lillet, gin, $9) was good but a touch sweet. Lastly we couldn't resist the very good, smoky Devil's Garden (lime, agave nectar, mint, chipotle, cynar, and bitter infused mezcal, $12).
Overall, the cocktails are good - misses are likely unavoidable - with such an extensive list, but only the Devil's Garden truly impressed. The space is romantic and inviting, banquette seating cozy but service struck us as efficient but indifferent, which broke the spell a bit. While prices are generally attractive ($9- 13), we'd be hard pressed to give a reason for you to go out of your way to check in to the Hotel Delmano unless you're in the 'hood.
One of the big problems with the cocktail scene is that places get packed and you can find yourself waiting an hour or more to get in. Worse yet, most don't take reservations, especially if you are just two. Considering the outside temps these days, waiting on the sidewalk is not really an option either.
One place has decided to go the reservation route, at least early in the week. Raines Law Room is now taking reservations Sunday - Tuesday. You need to email reservations@raineslawroom.com by 3pm day of with a phone number they can reach you at. Weds through Saturday is still first come, first served.
But surely you say, it's January and pretty slow - perfect to slip into a cocktail bar. Uh, not so fast. Early last week we tried to get into PDT but found it impossible while Death & Co quoted us a wait of 45 minutes. Even newbie Mayahuel was packed with only a couple of open tables. We're talking 8pm on a weeknight between the holidays and everything was jammed. So our recommendation is email Raines Law Room if you're heading out early in the week.
One place has decided to go the reservation route, at least early in the week. Raines Law Room is now taking reservations Sunday - Tuesday. You need to email reservations@raineslawroom.com by 3pm day of with a phone number they can reach you at. Weds through Saturday is still first come, first served.
But surely you say, it's January and pretty slow - perfect to slip into a cocktail bar. Uh, not so fast. Early last week we tried to get into PDT but found it impossible while Death & Co quoted us a wait of 45 minutes. Even newbie Mayahuel was packed with only a couple of open tables. We're talking 8pm on a weeknight between the holidays and everything was jammed. So our recommendation is email Raines Law Room if you're heading out early in the week.
Astor Wines & Spirits (399 Lafayette Street) knows how to start the year off right - for Astor Tuesdays they are taking 15% off all sake, soju and shochu. Yup, 130 different labels in total. We know it's cold outside, but don't you need some sake? The list of sakes can be found here.
